Showing posts sorted by relevance for query chad r. macdonald. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query chad r. macdonald. Sort by date Show all posts

Monday, August 19, 2013

CASEY'S A-TEAM


There are guys and gals you trust in life. I trust the Bleeding Yankee Blue writing staff and I trust the readers, you, who read us daily.  Your opinion matters. 

There is nothing worse than us slaving over a post for you to read, and immediately… and I mean IMMEDIATELY a reader will send me a note and say “HOW COULD YOU WRITE THAT, YOU HATE THE YANKEES!”  That my friends is a reader who didn’t read anything… EXCEPT THE HEADLINE. I know for a fact that many don’t read.  We write provocative headlines here sometimes and I can predict how many people will jump down my throat because they only read the headline.  All I’m saying is read our words… all of them, or maybe I should just write a headline blog. Hell, it would be a lot easier.

My writers are great and I recently wrote a piece titled CASEY'S ANGELS, smart women who write some pretty great stuff.  Well, there is also CASEY’S A-TEAM, 4 guys that I want to talk about today that do a pretty excellent job here.  They love to write too and they do it because they want you to enjoy yourself as you’re commuting to work, or having your coffee in the morning. 

Steve Skinner is a guy that, like me, have a million things going on in life.  But we’ve become good friends and we have the same values and in the end, he cranks out some of the best pieces that involve the Yankees that you will ever see.  He’s about quality, so while you don’t see him often, he’s just fine tuning his pieces… and he makes my life easier doing it.  I appreciate Steve and I’m glad to call him a friend, as well as an excellent writer for BYB.
(In Photo: Ike Dimitriadis holding my published USA Today Piece THE JETER EFFECT)
Ike Dimitriadis is another guy that has joined us and started last season just writing recaps for us.  In the winter, I wanted to retain him because I saw mad potential.  Ike and I like the same stuff and that involves the older players, the 1980’s always seems to pop into our conversations and the research and time he takes to put his pieces together is better than many out there, no question!  It’s refreshing and I appreciate his passion, it shows.

Rudy Laurens started writing with us this year and helped raise the bar.  Rudy is another busy guy, constantly with family, constantly doing things that are much more important than Bleeding Yankee Blue, but the guy is always willing an able to put a piece together for you guys, and has some great ideas.  He loves to write, loves to write for you and I appreciate all the effort he puts forth.  He’s a good dude with a love of the game and I'm glad he's there.

(In Photo: Chad R MacDonald revealing his BYB shirt at CitiField)
Chad R MacDonald is  a guy I have not seen around in a long, long time.  He’s a character, a family man and has the brain that I have… thinking of the nuggets that no one is thinking of.  We both love pop culture, collecting sports and star wars figures and he’s a big kid with a passion for writing that you will not see anywhere else on the net. That, I can honestly say, plus, I'm thrilled he's with BYB because I know he could go anywhere... but thank God he's with us.  Chad’s got a lot of balls in the air, always busy and he's always writing or doing something but he takes the time for our readers, and I appreciate it.  

Without these guys... without my group, Bleeding Yankee Blue is nothing.  Without you guys reading every day... BYB is nothing.  

Finally, let me say this; there have been people that have read this site since day 1.  For that, I thank you. We have not always been a gang of great writers.  This once started out with just me.  But BYB has never been about me and I never wanted it to be about only me.  I wanted a team and these days, the most perfect team I have ever had writes for me daily to create what has become the most interesting journey I have ever been on and hopefully for you too.  I applaud them for their help and volunteering and I applaud our readers for reading, sharing and enjoying us.  We're solid, and what started out as a brainchild for me, has become wonderful in every way... just like a family... just like a team.  

There ain't anything better than that, and to all you people that just don't understand that... well, I feel bad for you because you'll never understand team or family if you can't see what BYB is all about these days... and that's just straight talk, from a guy in a pretty great family... Bleeding Yankee Blue.

The Bleeding Yankee Blue store is opened! CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING! Also, follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

WHO WILL WIN THE FIRST ANNUAL BEEB AWARD?

We're gonna do something different here at Bleeding Yankee Blue.  We're seeking your vote for something that not one of my staff members knows about... except for me... because I'm king of the castle and I do what I want...
For the first time in BYB history, we are going to give a BYB writer an award based on reader votes.  It's called the BEEB Award and it's given to the writer that brought quality, satisfaction, information and energy to their posts in the year of 2013, according to you, the reader.

We have several writers here and all have offered excellent work in 2013. I'm proud of that.  All of our writers write differently; a different flair, a very individual creation every time.  Each have given their all and their time, and while they all deserve some type of award in my mind, much like they do in Pathmark, giving a cashier, an "Employee of the week" nod, We are giving away a BEEB.  It's the highest honor for a writer at Bleeding Yankee Blue... and I am happy to put this vote into action.


Here's what you, the readers, need to do.  Think.  Think about who you enjoyed reading the most in 2013.  Was it Jeana Bellezza and her piece about a proposal? Read A YANKEE PROPOSAL....SORT OF
or could it be Chad R MacDonald and his pieces about his daily attire? Read JERSEY BOY. Think it over.


Erica Morales wrote some good ones too.  How about her recent one on Jorge Posada? DREAMS DO COME TRUE. Maybe Suzie Pinstripe intrigued you with her piece titled: REGARDING CHAMPIONS...


Steve Skinner is a guest writer for us, but wrote a whole series about the Yankees Mount Olympus.  His most recent one is THE YANKEES MOUNT OLYMPUS: DEREK JETER.  Maybe Mike O'Hara had you entertained this year. He wrote a good one featuring Rich Gossage called BYB, THE GOOSE & MY DOG.


Ike Dimitriadis was full of energy and put together some quality pieces this year. Here's one titled WOULD BABE RUTH HAD SURVIVED THE PEDs ERA? Oh and who could forget Rudy Laurens reviewing Alex Rodriguez and the "slap" heard 'round the world. Read REVIEWING THE AROD "SLAP" YEARS LATER.


There are even the guys that write less, but still write for BYB when their schedules allow it.  Lem Allen with his in-depth interview with his grandfather titled: THE MAN THAT MADE ME A YANKEE FAN: THE FULL STORY, and Douglas Solomon writes once in a while and is always full of statistics. How about his piece titled AN INTERESTING TAKE ON THE YANKEES GETTING RID OF AROD.


The point is, we have unique writers and all bring a special flair to the pages of Bleeding Yankee Blue.  This year, our first year, we are giving away the BEEB, the highest honor, but it must be voted on by the readers of BYB.

So, I hand you the keys.  Vote. You will see the poll on the home page of BYB in the upper right. Vote for the writer that you feel is most deserving of the BEEB award. Once the vote concludes, we will present the award to the winner and they will write an acceptance piece thanking you.

If you need a full body of work of each writer,  you may click on their names below, and you'll be brought to their specific pages.
Read them, think long and hard, and vote.  Vote for your favorite BYB writer of 2013.  Vote to give one our writers the BEEB.

RULES for the writers are simple; There is no self promoting to get votes whatsoever. You cannot campaign for yourself. You MAY, promote this post, but that's it. For the readers, you may vote as much as you'd like, but  I really want you thinking it over. It's important to me.

Good luck to the writers. Thank you to the readers. 

Thank you to all the Bleeding Yankee Blue readers for continued success.  You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in the history of Yankees fandom.  Thanks for reading, sharing and enjoying. Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

ROBBIE'S RELOCATION REACTION: HOW TWEET IT IS


Twitter, for better or for worse, has given everyone a forum to voice their opinions on events. How have Tweeters been reacting to Robinson Cano relocating to Rain City?

Predictably, some have been hating:

Okay, quite a few have been hating:


And not limiting it to Twitter:

Some make cynical predictions:
Or cutesy jabs:
Others were congratulatory:
And got personal with the love:

Maybe a little too personal:


Although this guy made my hands down favorite recommendation:
But leave it to Bald Vinny to win the Internet:


Twitter. Otherwise known as The Kraken. Use caution if it is unleashed.


Chad R. MacDonald
BYB Features Writer
Facebook: New York Yankees the Home of Champions
My Blog: ChadRants



Thank you to all the Bleeding Yankee Blue readers for continued success.  You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in the history of Yankees fandom.  Thanks for reading, sharing and enjoying. Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

BYB'S 100 MUST-READ BASEBALL TWITTER ACCOUNTS FOR MLB FANS


Yup. That's right. It's a similar title to the piece the Sporting News put out a few weeks ago.  Not gonna lie, we understand that Bleeding Yankee Blue is not huge, but we're damn popular... and we were a bit annoyed to find out that we weren't on that list Sporting News list.  So I'm doing something smart. I'm giving you our list... INCLUDING US, because we understand the fans here at BYB.

And so, here are OUR choices for 100 must-read baseball Twitter accounts in no particular order. Check them out, follow them, and know this... we have spoken. Sporting News who?

Bleeding Yankee Blue:

ROBERT CASEY- Bleeding Yankee Blue
SUZIE PINSTRIPE
ERICA MORALES
IKE DIMITRIADIS
JEANA BELLEZZA
MIKE O'HARA
RUDY LAURENS
STEVE SKINNER

National Media:


CRAIG CALCATERRA- Hardball Talk 

CHRIS COTILLO- MLB Daily Dish
BOB NIGHTENGALE- USA Today
KEN ROSENTHAL - FOX Sports
JIM BOWDEN- ESPN Senior Analyst


PETE CALDERA- Bergen Record 

JOEL SHERMAN- New York Post
MARC CARIG Newsday
PETE ABRAHAM- Boston Globe


CHAD JENNINGS- LoHudYankees

MARK FEINSAND- New York Daily News
TIM BROWN- Yahoo Sports
KEN DAVIDOFF- New York Post


RASHEEDA COOPER- Bomber Boulevard 

SUSAN SLUSSER- San Francisco Chronicle
TROY RENCK- Denver Post
BRYAN HOCH- MLB.com, Yankees


ANDY MCCULLOUGH- Kansas City Star

MARC TOPKIN- Tampa Bay Times
MELISSA CUOTO-  Canadian Baseball Network


JON MOROSI- FOX Sports 1 

BRENDAN KUTY- NJ.com
DELIA ENRIQUEZ- Bronx Baseball Daily
JEFF PASSAN- Yahoo Sports


MARK SIMON- ESPN

PETER KEATING- ESPN The Magazine
JON HEYMAN- CBS Sports
JENIFER LANGOSCH, MLB.com, Cardinals


JOHN HARPER- New York Daily News

JANE HELLER- Confessions of a She Fan
MIKE AXISA- River Ave Blues


JOHN KRUK- ESPN 

KRISTEN MERIWETHER- Epoch Times
ERIC BOLAND- Newsday
ANTHONY MCCARRON- New York Daily News
DAVID LENNON- Newsday


CLIFF CORCORAN- Sports Illustrated

DYLAN HERNANDEZ- LA Times


MARK BOWMAN- MLB.com, Braves

JIM CALLIS, MLB.com
KEVIN KERNAN- New York Post
AARON GLEEMAN- Hardball Talk



TYLER KEPNER- New York Times

TODD ZOLECKI- MLB.com, Phillies
CHAD R. MACDONALD- YanksGoYard
BRITTANY GHIROLI- Orioles.com


JACKIE MICUCCI- Through the Fence Baseball

LOU DIPIETRO- YES Network
DAVID O'BRIEN- Atlantic Journal Constitution
ADAM KILGORE- Washington Post


MICHAEL PACHOLEK- Uncle Mike's Musings

MIKE BERARDINO- Twins beat writer
BILL BROST- YanksGoYard
JANE LEE- MLB.com, Athletics
DAVE BROWN- Yahoo Sports
GREG COHEN- Sliding into Home
JASON KEIDEL- WFAN/CBS

TV, Radio & Podcasts:



SCOTT FERRALL- CBS Sports Radio


BOB LORENZ- YES Network

MEREDITH MARAKOVITS YES Network
JACK CURRY- YES Network


JESSICA KLEINSCHMIDT- eDraftSports

ASHLEY WILLIAMS- Her Fantasy Football
KEN SINGLETON- YES Network
BRUCE BECK- NBC Sports Anchor

 Odds & Ends:



BRANDON STEINER- Steiner Sports 

Read these individuals and sites. Follow them, they are terrific.

There... now I feel better.

You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

BRONX SHOCKER: ELLSBURY TO WEAR PINSTRIPES

How you like me now?


I remember years ago going to bed in the off season only to be woken up by 1010 wins telling me that that "Stealth Ninja" Brian Cashman was able to secure one of the biggest free agents in baseball at the time.  Mark Teixeira comes to mind, but the list goes on and on and there were always surprises.  I didn't expect Johnny Damon, but that happened.  Jason Giambi eventually picked the Yankees.  So did Carl Pavano, but that was a dud as we now know.  Tonight, it was a shocker to me to find out that Jacoby Ellsbury had agreed to a contract with the mighty New York Yankees... but more importantly, it sealed the end of life in the Bronx for Robinson Cano... most likely of course.


It's being reported tonight that pending a physical, Jacoby Ellsbury and the Yankees have agreed on a deal worth... sit down for this... 7 years and $153 million.  In other words, 7 year deals are the new 10 year deals, and Robinson Cano is late to the party.  All that money that Robbie could have had signing a 7 year deal with most likely an 8 year option is gone. It's going to Ellsbury.  You know what? That's what happens when you mess with the Yankees... you get the horns.  Cano got the horns, BIG TIME. 


Now I stated earlier today in 1 MAN DOES NOT A CHAMPIONSHIP MAKE, that Cano "...needs to put his priorities in order and his pocketbook in check.  I personally would go as high as $180, $185 and maybe top out there, but just like buying a house, you need to give alittle, and so does the seller, until that offer is met.  No, we don't need to change Cano's water heater, but I'd love to change his furnace, his fire and his leadership.  I know, I know, you can't change a player's ways, and Cano will continue to be Cano, but you just hope this free agent process opened his eyes alittle bit."

He must have not read that incredible piece of literature, because it's probably over for Cano in the Bronx ladies and gentleman.... Greed lost today like I said it would.

And so, what about the man of the moment? Jacoby Ellsbury is a New York Yankee.  When the deal was officially reported, I wrote this on Twitter:
I wasn't writing that I was going to throw up because of the player we got, I was writing it because I was in shock that it even happened, and I, believe it or not, got sad for a moment.  Cano in the Bronx is probably officially over and now we have a new chapter with a former Red Sock.  While it doesn't really matter what team he came from, it's clear that Yankee Brass was ready to shake things up.


A guy like Carlos Beltran is probably going to the Royals at this point.  The Yankees didn't make the playoffs in 2013.  We needed great players right now and we got one in Brian McCann.  The stars were aligning just right.  Don't forget, Bleeding Yankee Blue's Chad R MacDonald said it best in our piece SNAP OUT OF IT, "...remember what they did next after missing the playoffs the last time." Oh, I do Chad, we bought big and we won the next season..BIG.  Clearly, the Yankees are doing it again. Clearly they were embarrassed by 3rd place.


When healthy, Ellsbury can be dynamic and that's a good thing. I'm happy about that. But he needs to stay healthy and he doesn't have a great track record. That being said, he's young and he's hungry and hey, BYB wrote about that.  You could say we predicted it before anyone when we wrote WHY JACOBY ELLSBURY COULD BECOME A YANKEE saying: "...will the timing be right for the Yankees and will they try to snatch him up to help man the outfield in the Bronx? It’s not a terribly unusual question considering it’s been done before with guys like Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens and Johnny Damon...Look, the facts are clear, Ellsbury's contract with the Red Sox is almost up... and guess what? Who Jacoby Ellsbury's agent? One guess: Yep, Scott Boras. The same agent who represents Mark Teixeira and a ton of other high profile guys. Scott likes to work with the Yankees. You feel me so far?"  That was written in December of 2011.  We have a crystal ball... our secret is out. 


Again, the point is the timing was right on this and I am a true believer that that 7 years offer to Ellsbury was not only a legit offer, but it was also symbolism, or, in this case, a missile.  That was a "Cano can suck it" offer.  Yeah, the Yankees will deny that last statement, but I believe it was a message. Because everything they do is symbolic in a weird way, and now it's clear they have turned their back on Cano.


Now, I know, it's true that Robbie does still have a chance to come back to New York, but that demand he wanted originally is long gone. He'd have to take a significant loss and I just don't think his "people" will allow it.  The hardest thing for me to believe is that Robbie's people overshot so badly, propping him up like Michael Jordan. Think about that.  They went to the press and leaked the most ridiculous statement in the history of free agency.  I mean sure, Cano is great, but he ain't Michael Jordan. They had the balls to suggest that $300 million was his "value", his "worth". I mean seriously? What started out as what could have been the biggest contract win in the history of sports blew up in their faces... with the Yankees at least. I mean, we are one of the only teams that can afford him, unless you count the Red Sox. But they already have Dustin Pedrioa... and he hustles.   The point is, Cano's camp not only botched the whole deal for Robbie, but Cano didn't even have a grasp on what was going on in his own contract talks.  In the end, that's what ruined it for him.  He's probably just as shocked as you and I are, but he has no one to blame but himself.  Trust me, we don't need Cano to win a championship. Sure, he'd help A WHOLE LOT, but 25 men make up a championship team, not 1.  Robbie just learned that lesson...the only person high on him was him. That's no way to go through life.


Finally, a message to Robinson and I say this with a heavy heart.  Your agent screwed you.  You screwed you and when you back-tracked on a 10 year / $300 million deal and denied it,  It was clear right then that you had no grasp on your own negotiation.  That's a sign of weakness and the Yankees smelled it. You have alot to learn and there's still time, but like I've stated here numerous times, Greed makes people perceive you differently and it's crystal clear that right now, you rubbed the people that loved you most the wrong way because greed got in the way.  Reputation's a valuable thing... it's bigger than money... you can fix it from this point forward, but I'm afraid you won't be fixing it in the Bronx.

I hope the Yanks can still retain Cano ladies and gentlemen, because I'm shocked right now, but with the deal they just made with Jacoby Ellsbury... I just don't see how it's possible.

I guess it may be farewell my friend.... farewell and good luck.

The Bleeding Yankee Blue store is opened! CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING! Also, follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

LIFE, THE UNIVERSE & EVERYTHING


Jackie Robinson represents to me the best of what people can be. He is sheer talent, pure bravery, and all that is admirable. He represents that which is good about humanity.

He represents the best of America. This nation is supposed to be about achieving your dreams, no matter who you are and no matter who says you may not. Jackie is quite frankly the absolute representation of the American Dream made good.

Nobody thought Jackie could do it. Many did not want him to. But he believed in himself and achieved his dream anyway. And changed how we all saw baseball in doing so.

He makes me proud of my dual heritage. I grew up in Canada, which has quietly made major contributions to baseball. Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run in Toronto. Jackie played for Montreal. Canada does not thump its chest about what it has done for baseball, but it should here.

His story speaks to me personally. I live in Brooklyn. I love baseball. I now have a son, and want nothing to impede his dreams either. Children play baseball in Prospect Park, right next to where I live. Maybe my boy will want to play with them one day.

Even the new movie about him resonates for me. It is the story of a personal hero of mine; about a sport I love deeply; starring a childhood favorite actor in a supporting role (like YOU don’t love Han Solo/Indiana Jones either); and the actor playing Jackie is named Chad, like me.

One more correlation that sums up how I feel about Jackie Robinson?

Douglas Adams, in his “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” books constructed an elaborate story arc where the punchline was the answer to “Life, the Universe, and Everything.” The gag was that people couldn’t get the question right. But the answer?

It’s 42.


Chad R. MacDonald
BYB Writer
Facebook: New York Yankees the Home of Champions
My Blog: ChadRants



Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

BASEBALL'S HAIR APPARENT


I’d rather knot get all tied up here. I will summarize the highlights. I braid to God this wouldn’t be a pun-fest, and will stay on the mane topic. So comb along as we look at memorable do’s (but mostly don’ts) in baseball history.



We start with a Yankee. Of course. He was also an Indian where the hair started. If Oscar were an animal, he would be a giraffe-ro.
 


Coco was obsessed with the space program as a boy, so he became an Afronaut.



Bronson doesn’t play golf. He keeps getting stuck between the cornrows.



Hairstyle not that bad, really, but this picture needs mocking. Add your own caption.



Such a stropping young man. For pitchers, Damon’s at-bats were salon ones.



A proud and controversial player, Ellis made many stands and statements in support of his people. The curlers won’t roller him over.
 


The Freak eventually turned the page, boy, and got a haircut. Stay tuned for his next contract extensions.



Keep smiling, Dmitri, you’ll get straightened out.



 AAAAAH! AAAAAAH! AAAAAAH! Kill it with fire!



Why didn’t Manny get salmon on his bagel? Because he dreads lox!



Call him Blond. James Blond. At least a Yankee never did this stupid a dye job…



Darn it! I hate bleaching about the Yankees.

Okay, this article is even making me bristle. I have been waxing humorous too long, but now I am tired and I really must weave. So I’m going to cut out of here, got to get up oily. I am outta hair!


 
Chad R. MacDonald
BYB Writer
Facebook: New York Yankees the Home of Champions
My Blog: ChadRants


Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.